May 19: Freeing Refrains with Rie Gilsdorf: More Stories, Convos, & Song

We are delighted to welcome Rie Gilsdorf to share some of their story with Freeing Refrains.  RSVP below and then watch for our interview with them to drop.

Day:  Thursday, May 19, 2022
Time:  6:30-8:30 p.m. CT
RSVP free:  Eventbrite 

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Bio:  Rie Algeo Gilsdorf, MS, MA, has broad experience as a principal, arts administrator, facilitator, coach, teacher of science and dance, and parent in innovative public, private, magnet and charter schools. She spent her early career delivering, designing and guiding arts-integrated, student-centered learning, and most recently spent five years at Courageous Conversation learning how to engage productively in equity work as a white woman.

Throughout her career Rie has also facilitated adult learning that develops capacity to achieve equity across race, gender, sexuality and ability in redesigned schools and progressive faith communities.

Dances of Universal Peace Testimony from Dr. Colleen Carpenter

Dr. Colleen Carpenter invited Conie and two colleagues to share Dances of Universal Peace and street justice songs for a paired Religion and Music honors class early in March 2022.  After the demonstration, Carpenter sent this note.  Shared with permission.  

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"I am someone who finds it very difficult to really trust in God’s love and justice. I BELIEVE in it, and I cling to it, but the horror and the suffering of the world seem to me more “real” in a lot of ways.

I have to believe in God’s love, because if I don’t there’s nothing but despair, but I don’t think it’s going to save anyone on a practical level in the world right now. Putin will continue to level Ukraine.

But when I was driving home,

Reading My Grandmother's Hands, Take 2022

It's time to read My Grandmother's Hands in community!  You are welcome to join us whether you have participated before or are newly joining us.  

We are organizing this reading with Music that Makes Community, an organization near and dear to our heart for their work to empower and liberate the spiritual life of communities through singing.  Check out more of their work here.

Groups start late in April and continue meeting every other week for eight 90-minute sessions.  Nine (!) scheduling options are available, including weekend and weekday evening.  See the details, select your best times, and register on this scheduling survey form: https://forms.gle/XErMmM9vkjCBG2wQ9.  

Setlist from Soul Song Circle, March 19, 2022

Here's the list of songs we sang at the Soul Song Circle, a mixed culture/BIPOC-centered sing, on Saturday night, March 19, 2022. 

1. Put Your Roots Down (Molly Hartwell)
2. Sweet Surrender (text: Saint Symeon/music: Sophia)
3. Get Into Your Body (Lea Morris)
4. Be the Light (Lea Morris) - teaching video
5. In My Circle (Joan MacMillian)
6. Te Aroha (Maori song)
7. Hymn for the Russian Earth (Yuri Zaritsky and Eugene Friesen)
8. In Hope, In Prayer (Batya Levine)
9. Another World Is Possible/Smash the Patriarchy (Liz Digitale Anderson)
10. Stand Up from the movie, Harriet (Joshuah Brian Campbell & Cynthia Erivo)
11. Rest Your Weary Head* (Shannon Young)

* No public recording available at this time.  

If you'd like to join us for the next Soul Song Circle, a mixed culture/BIPOC-centered sing in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro, email us at Listening at pointsoflightmusic dot net OR use the contact form on this website and we'll let you know when and where the next gathering is.  

Gatherings are approximately once a month.  

Attendees are asked to prove a recent negative covid test.